Last night I had another Get Together. It was an encouragement. I received an order and had a request for a workshop. I have thought about holding a workshop but didn't think I was ready to do one. I don't really have the resources yet. I would need to spend money to purchase products. I haven't been doing this long enough to have inventory or a profit yet. But maybe I just need to spend the money, hold some workshops, and hope that I make a profit or at least get back what I spent. I think that it is possible, since some of what I would buy is reusable, unlike the paper and stickers.

Today is the second day of Vacation Bible School at church. The theme is Fiesta! I wear the same shirt each day (I will wash it.) It is a rather bright shade of yellow, with "Fiesta! Where kids are fired up about Jesus" printed across the front. After VBS yesterday, I sported it around while I grocery shopped. I am crew leader, and I have four 5 year olds in my charge. You think, hey, that's not bad. Well, maybe you should try it. They are four very active 5 year olds.

Yesterday we learned how some friends took their paralyzed friend to see Jesus. And not only did they take him to see Jesus, they lowered him through a roof to do it. And you know what? Jesus healed him. They were good friends. We also got to make a craft, sings fun songs, play cool games, and eat a tasty snack. And everything had the theme of being good friends. Our verse for yesterday is "Now you are my friends." John 15:15.

What fun things will we learn today?

For my hsuband's birthday, we went to see the Sammy Kaye Orchestra. After church, we dropped our daughter off at Grnadmom's house and went to have brunch at a very nice restaurant. Then since we had time, we strolled down Main Street until it was time to take our seats.

We had secod row seats to listen and "swing and sway with Sammy Kaye." I don't know if it was the heat, or the food, or the fact that I just haven't gotten enough sleep, but I was having a very hard time staying awake during the first half of the show. I bought a snake mix durning intermittion, hoping that I could munch during the second half if I needed to. I did need to, but it wasn't as bad.

I was rather disappointed with the show. There was a whole lot more swaying than swinging and maybe that's why I had trouble staying awake. I would have prefered it to be the other way around. It was good music, I just wanted more swing music.

But we did have a very nice afternoon together. After we got home and put our daughter to bed, we tackled the garage together. Isn't that sweet? I moved items from a gardening bin into the garage and then filled it with kindling for the winter months of fires in our fireplace. My husband did some organizing in the garage and trash detail. We are both satisfied with our work. It was needing to be done.

We finally got all our price quotes for which we have been waiting. Now we just have to decide on who will do what we want done.

The windows have been giving us trouble in deciding, because we want ones that look like what we already have. Well, today we went looking again. And low and behold we found them. They are Marvin windows and have the grids on the outside of the glass on the inside and the outside of the window, so even though it is one large pane of glass, it looks like eight separate panes. The inside of the window is still wood, and the outside is aluminum (maintenance free), but still resembles wood. The catch is they are not as economical as the regular replacement windows we have looked at. But we feel that they will maintain the look and charm of our 1938 house, with a much higher energy efficiency. If we replace all our windows it means no central air. We would just buy another window unit for the living room and next summer a unit for the back room.

We haven't quite decided which route we will take. Both routes are expensive.

When I log onto this site, I have to put my user name and password in. I also choose the "remember me" box, which is suppose to remember my information so I don't have to type it in each time I log on. Yet everytime I want to log on, I have to retype my user name and password, as though I did not choose that box. If they are going to bother having the "remember me" box, then it should actually remember me.

That reminds me of when I call a company and the automated person asks for information such as phone number, social security number, order number, and then twenty mintues later when you actually get to speak with a real live person, they ask for the information you already just put in. Why do they do that?

My daughter and I went to Costco today with my parents. We bought some food items for our trip to the beach. My entire family is very excited about our week at Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Doesn't 14 adults and 8 kids (ages 12 through 1) in one seven bedroom house sound like fun? That many people eat a lot. We end up going to the store several times in the week we are there. We thought we'd get a head start.

It is only six days until we leave, though we won't actually get to the beach until Saturday. We are stopping at my husband's business acquaintance's house for dinner Thursday evening, then driving on to my friend's house and staying with her until Saturday. We can't get into the house at the beach until after 4:00 pm, so we will have plenty of time to travel on Saturday.

Packing our Honda Civic will be a fun task. I am already trying to figure out how we are going to get everything in. My cousin called today and asked if we would bring our piano keyboard, so her girls can still practice. Hey if she wants it, I am more than willing to let her pack it. They have a minivan. Last time I took my sewing machine. We didn't have a daughter then. Children add quite a bit to one's packing needs.

I have been enjoying not having to bend over to look in my refrigerator. We got a bottom freezer style. It also has been nice to have a back up frig and freezer in the basement.

I am also enjoying my new dishwasher. If you know of anyone who could use one let me know. Right now I can't give it away. No thrift stores, charities or people that I have contacted want it. It works fine, but it has no home.

It is hot.

My sister has my daughter, so I was able to do some shopping without her. It is much easier and quicker without her.

Last night I had a training for Creative Memories, so now I am more excited and ready to go
than I was before to find me some hostesses. I also have some goals that I can work toward.

We are still waiting on a price quote from a heating/cooling place to make a decision about who to go with for heater replacement and air-conditioning. I think we decided to replace our windows, at least as many as we can with what funds we have, we just can't decide which windows and grids to choose, which will then determine which company we use. We want to still have the wood look as best we can, which isn't easy with vinyl windows. Though today we just may have found the best compromise. Vinyl outside, wood inside. And do we replace the gutters or not. Also the plumbing and electric are still yet to be determined.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

We finally turned on our window air-conditioners. Sleeping has been much better with them. We only have one downstairs, which doesn't adequately cool the entire space, but it does help with the humidity.

We went looking for cell phones. My friend whose phone we have been using needs to not pay for it right now due to financial reasons, so we thought we would get our own phone plan. We checked out Cingular, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint. We went to a Cingular kiosk, but looked at all the companies online. It is hard to pick. The cheapest would be Sprint, but their coverage leaves much to be desired. That is the company my friend has, and I am constantly loosing service, even when I am not moving. Cingular has the best coverage, but is most expensive. Verizon and T-Mobile are in the middle. I think I would go with Verizon if we decide to get a cell phone.

I have some new ideas for dealing with my daughter. First off, I need to spend more time with her without doing anything else. Repeating instructions calmly and touch were two suggestions by my cousin. I also know I need to redirect her when she is doing something she shouldn't be doing. We had a much better day today.

On another front, I was quite put out with the Sears delivery people, who were suppose to deliver our refrigerator and dishwasher between 10:00am and 12:00pm today. After calling the delivery number twice, they finally showed up at 1:45pm. I know that people run late. What I don't like and think is rude is that I wasn't called and informed that they would be late. What really was irritating was that there was food getting warm, sitting in coolers waiting to go back in the refrigerator. And I needed to make lunch. I didn't want to root through and let warm air in. I ended up having to anyway. My daughter and I needed to eat. Another contractor came today to give us pricing on a new heater and installing air conditioning. He was an hour late. No call. I don't necessarily have time or nothing going on that I can just sit around waiting for people to show up. My time is important too.

This is like what has happened to me at the Ob/Gyn prenatal visits. I am left sitting for way past my appointment time with nary a word as to why. And it isn't just me. I was talking to my cousin who goes to the same office. She also sat waiting for a doctor way too long. It didn't use to be like that. She did have a suggestion though: call before going to the appointment to find out how far behind they are running. I plan to check for my next appointment.

For the past several weeks, every day is a struggle for me. I get so frustrated with my daughter. She is constantly doing what I tell her not to do. Not often does she follow directions the first time and without threat of punishment. I know she is only two (almost), but it still seems that she should be able to follow simple directions. The times are definitely terrible.

I tell myself that I have to be patient and guide her through her tantrums. But I find that all I want to do is spank her severely and put her away in her crib. I am trying not to spank her, because I really don't want to hit her, but timeouts aren't all that effective right now. Nothing is.

I wonder, why can't she play with her own toys, she has enough of them. But no, she has to play with everything else, making a mess. Which of course I end up cleaning up. She helps because I tell her she needs to clean up after herself, but face it, a two year old just doesn't clean up as well as an adult. I end up doing the brunt of the work. Why can't she just obey?

And being pregnant doesn't help. I am extra tired, my back and legs ache much of the time, and I am more emotional, which is why I am probably so frustrated all the time. I am just plain tired of repeating myself and being ignored. I long for the time when she is asleep, or my husband or family member watches her. Caring for her is very draining.

But still I love her and can't imagine not having her here. I know it will get better, and she will be more obedient as she gets older. I continually pray for God's guidance.

Yet again our five year old cat is on our nerves. Before we moved she wouldn't stop biting and attacking our feet. Now in our new house, she's afraid of the basement, the best location for the cat box. We started her in our room (no place for a cat box.) Then the extra room (will be Joshua's room - still no place for a cat box.) Then right outside the basement door (we're getting closer.) Then the bottom of the basement steps. At that point there would be a long stretch of time when the box would go unused, and we didn't find presents anywhere. Eventually she would need to go and would cower down the steps to do her business.

Then we got the new kitty. We moved the cat boxes back to the spare room. After having them there for a few days we moved them back downstairs. There was an "accident" done on purpose in the spare room. Yesterday we put the box in the basement again. Another "accident" in our room. Kalli thought it was new location and started to relieve herself. I quickly changed her mind. The cats were band from all rooms upstairs. This morning another accident in the dining room. The box came back up from the basement and is sitting at the top of the stairs. We have to find a location that suits us both. The basement is apparently not an option if we don't want to be cleaning up messes. It's current location is not acceptable for us humans, though not two minutes after relocating it there, Patches used it and Kalli went investigating.

I have not found any new messes.

I just realized I completely forgot to report that during our ultrasound on the 28th of June, our son made his presence known. We weren't going to find out if we were having a boy or girl, but my husband spied that he was a he. Though the technician confirmed it, we still know that there is a possibly we could have another daughter. Which could mean she might go without a name for a bit. We were having difficulties deciding on a girl's name, but have since ceased with racking our brains. We already had a boy's name picked out - Joshua Edward.

He has also been making his presence known, by the moving I am feeling. I have felt him for several weeks now. It still amazes me that there is a little person inside me, that God is getting ready for us to meet.

We finally named the kitten Kalli.

My cousin and aunt are up from NC. I haven't seen my cousin in a coon's age. He is finished his stint in the Florida Keys and now is taking a vet job in Wilmington, NC. He and auntie came up before is new job starts.

And last night, we (my husband, sister, cousin and I) went to a Phillies game. We splurged on seating, in the $44.00 area, hoping for a foul ball. None came our way, but we did see the Phillie Phanatic upclose and personal. He was a seat away from us. My cousin got a few pieces of memorabilia. On our other trips to a game, we tend to get there after the first inning has already started. But not this time. We had time to eat our hoagies before the National Anthem. And see the first pitch.

I made what I thought was a grave error and forgot to go to the bathroom before we left. My husband spied a port-a-potty, and we made our way to it. I have never in my life seen one of those so full. It was disgusting. The liquid line was maybe five inches from overflowing. I thought I'd go anyway, but then noticed no toilet paper. I just headed right out of there at that point. My sister was headed over to use the facilities, but I turned her right around and brought her back to the car, explaining she did not want to go in there. I think the experience allowed my bladder to not need to be emptied like it thought it needed.

I am not sure when, but my sister bought my child a small pool. Despite her unhappy relationship with water, my daughter loves it. She sees it in the garage where we store it and points to it, saying "pool." We hardly fill it, and since it sits on a slight angle only half of the pool has water in it. It is great for a child who stands for her baths and cries half of the time. She has come so far as to kneel and lay on her belly, yet she won't sit on her bottom. She has toys, on e being a cup that she likes to fill and dump down her front. She even has a head first method of getting in the pool.

I am hoping that this will prepare her somewhat for our week at the beach. Although I do realize a placid two inch, half filled pool is quite different then a constantly moving, ever deepening, always pulling ocean. The sand alone may be a factor.

We will see. I was told that one trip to the beach while I was a youngster found me terrified of the water. My family tried and finally the last day or so, I found the water to be great fun. But I was sorely unhappy to have it end so soon. If only I had given it a chance sooner. I think my daughter will.

We finally got our chest freezer. Three weeks it has taken us to get it from a friend. The rain was a big hindrance, along with having to borrow a big enough vehicle, and someone to help move it. I think my husband planned to go pick it up at least four times, but it kept raining.

Well, this morning dawned clear, my parents' van was available, and my father was a willing mover. It is finally in place in our basement. It is plugged in getting cold. I needed to clean it out before it got too cold. I missed my opportunity. I had to unplug it, let it warm up, clean it, than plug it back in. But alas, it is now freezing inside, holding some of our food. Yeah, extra food storage space. I plan on shopping for extra food this coming week.

In my new house, there is ample room for extra food storage, and I am taking full advantage of it. Soon I will have an extra refrigerator in the basement as well. Then I can stock up on milk and yogurt and other refrigerated goodies. I have extra shelves in the basement as well for dry goods. They are full. I don't have a pantry in my kitchen, but I do have a Hoosier which has become my pantry. We are vacillating back and forth about redesigning our kitchen or leaving the cabinets as they are and just replacing the countertop. There is a big price difference in the two choices. I think we are leaning to redesigning but waiting a few years to save up for it.

Back to my day . . . In the afternoon we relaxed and napped. For dinner we went to my cousin's house, were we joined my aunt, parents and sister for a picnic of sloppy joes, tuna macaroni salad, tossed salad, lima bean casserole, and corn on the cob. Yes even though we were at my cousin's house, she and her family were not present. They were up in Maine. Their dog needed some visiting, plus they have a pool, so we went there.

Of course our child ate little. She likes to make like she eats more, though, but then spits it out. She can hold quite a bit in her little cheeks. She had fun running around though, getting dirty. We ended up giving her a bath. That was a fun endeavor, creating a water mess, since she thought it a good idea to have water on the outside of the tub using a small pitcher. Two towels later she is dried and ready for bed, along with her parents.

Our yesterday at the NJ shore was a nice change from boxes and unpacking. We got there around 10:30 and relaxed for a while. Napping for our daughter was concern since we forgot the portable crib. My husband took care of it by rocking her and letting her sleep on his chest. He also got a nap in. It was very precious seeing the two of them sleeping.

We headed to the beach then, were our daughter wanted nothing to do with the sand. She wouldn't een let us put her down on a blanket. But after a little cajoling she became quite fond of teh beach, so much so that we tired of chasing after her. She'd run up and down the beach, keeping sure of staying free and clear of the water. She never did warm up to the water, which was the boiling temperature of about 63 degrees. My toes could barely stand it. She would be standing where there was no water, and then all of a sudden the water was after her, and she'd run away with a shriek. She had a grand time.

We finally retreated to the beach chairs which we never really got to sit in, because we were playing in the sand with our daughter. We'd build towers and she knocked them down. I was able to make 8 towers before she smashed them to ruins. After playing in the sand she took to running around in the dry sand. She ended up with sand everywhere including her face. We were worn out from keeping her in check, so headed back early. We cleaned up and eventually headed to the boardwalk.

We wanted some yummy pizza from Mack and Manco's. It was so busy we decided on take out and still had to wait in a line. Their pizza is very tasty and worth waiting in a short line. She settled on a bench to munch our late dinner. Last year I witnessed a very brazen seagull steal a woman's pizza right from her plate. Your eyes have to be ever watchful with seagulls around. It was later at night and the seagulls were not around during our dinner.

I stopped and bought some fudge, my husband got some coffee, and I got a Henna tattoo. We got back to the house much later than we wanted to. We ended up leaving for home much later than we wanted to also. And there was traffic. Ridiculously long traffic. It took us almost an extra hour to get home.

It was a good, relaxing, long, tiring day.

We went shopping at the local hardware store. My husband mowed and edged. It looks great. I pulled weeds - still have more than halfway to go, but what is done looks good. We have a parking space that is stone and weeds. I am trying to get rid of the weeds. I pulled many and also sprayed weed killer on them.

We also have an overrun-by-weeds garden area. I am not even halfway done weeding that. I hope to plant something in it soon. I need to get weeding to do so. It is a tiring and hot task. I spent a long time pulling at weeds.

We ended the day with a trip to Applebee's with my parents. I do like not having to cook, especially with a non-air conditioned kitchen.